An approaching shortwave interacted with ample moisture across west Texas, resulting in the development of numerous showers and thunderstorms. Cloud cover largely limited the severe threat, but one storm in the Big Bend did manage to produce severe wind gusts, up to 66 mph.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MAF wrote it up.
An approaching shortwave interacted with ample moisture across west Texas, resulting in the development of numerous showers and thunderstorms. Cloud cover largely limited the severe threat, but one storm in the Big Bend did manage to produce severe wind gusts, up to 66 mph.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 11, 1:19 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 219 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 138 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 - Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected over the region this afternoon and evening. A few of these storms may become strong to severe with damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding being the main hazards. - Low chances (10-30%) of isolated storms Sunday afternoon and early evening across the far eastern Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos. Damaging winds and large hail remain the primary hazards for the strongest storms. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Sunday night) Issued at 138 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 An upper trough is beginning to dig into the West Coast. Meanwhile, a surface high resides over the southeastern US, bringing Gulf moisture into our region from the south and southeast. The upper level feature draws Pacific moisture out of the southwest. The shortwave trough progresses northeast from northwestern Mexico toward the Great Plains through the remainder of the day and into Sunday, providing a source for ascent. As it does so, a lee cyclone continues to develop and deepen, making its way across the Plains. Scattered showers are ongoing over our westernmost counties, including southeast New Mexico. A couple of storms are also beginning to develop over the Upper Trans Pecos. Storm activity is expected to continue developing and expanding in coverage through the afternoon. Some storms will be capable of producing large hail (up to quarter and golf ball size) and damaging winds (up to 70mph). Through the evening, CAMs are showing more agreement in storm modes becoming linear, or a mix of linear, with a few discrete cells as the system shifts eastward. This would favor damaging winds as a primary threat over hail with any strong to severe storms. An isolated tornado or two would also become a threat embedded within the line over the eastern Permian Basin and down into the Lower Trans Pecos and Big Bend, though the tornado potential remains low at the time. Aside from the potential of severe weather, occasionally heavy rainfall resulting in flash flooding will also be a hazard to monitor through the evening, especially within urban and low-lying areas. Ensembles show above normal PWATs ranging from 1.10-1.35" across the eastern half of our region this evening. Otherwise, storm activity looks to largely push east of our region shortly after midnight, then overnight lows cool mainly into the 50s, with some in the low 60s. Sunday, the upper level trough translates across our region. The dryline sharpens up again during the afternoon, serving as an additional form of ascent and a focal point for storm development. However, this feature looks to set up over the eastern fringes of our region. Therefore, low (10-20%) rain chances are forecast over the eastern Permian Basin and the Lower Trans Pecos Sunday afternoon, tapering off during the evening. A storm or two may become strong to severe over these areas, with large hail and damaging winds as the primary threats. Temperatures Sunday are generally expected to top out in the 80s, then fall into the 50s and 60s Sunday night. && .LONG TERM... (Monday through Friday) Issued at 138 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 A series of upper troughs moving across the northern tier of states along the U.S./Canada border will create a zonal pattern for the extended period and prevent any amplification of any upper features. This zonal flow will keep temperatures above normal through the end of the week, fortunately relatively light winds should keep highs in the upper 80s which is not too far above normal. An afternoon dryline may develop several days next week providing a low chance for shower and thunderstorms in the eastern Permian Basin, fire weather concerns are possible west of the dryline. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1226 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026 MVFR conditions gradually give way to VFR condition at most sites this afternoon. However, scattered to numerous showers and storms are forecast across the region this afternoon and into the evening, some of which may be strong to severe. Expect erratic and gusty winds in the vicinity of storms, as well as a possibility of reduced visibility. TEMPOs have been included at many sites, and amendments shall be issued as needed. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 58 85 62 88 / 90 10 0 0 Carlsbad 55 84 57 86 / 40 0 0 0 Dryden 61 87 64 87 / 80 10 10 20 Fort Stockton 57 85 60 87 / 70 10 10 10 Guadalupe Pass 54 75 54 76 / 30 0 0 0 Hobbs 53 83 52 84 / 50 10 0 0 Marfa 45 78 46 81 / 60 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 58 85 62 87 / 80 10 0 0 Odessa 58 84 62 86 / 80 10 0 0 Wink 56 85 56 86 / 50 10 0 0 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. && SHORT TERM...95 LONG TERM....10 AVIATION...95
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
318 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026
TXZ061-062-112100-
Midland TX-Ector TX-
318 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL ECTOR...SOUTHERN ANDREWS
AND NORTHWESTERN MIDLAND COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM CDT...
At 318 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
West Odessa, or 14 miles southwest of Odessa, moving northeast at 25
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Odessa, Goldsmith, West Odessa, Odessa Schlemeyer Field, and Penwell.
This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 99 and 111.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3168 10255 3174 10269 3209 10264 3208 10220
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 205DEG 21KT 3179 10258
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
95Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
344 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026
TXZ279-112130-
Central Brewster County TX-
344 PM CDT Sat Apr 11 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL BREWSTER COUNTY
THROUGH 430 PM CDT...
At 344 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 17
miles north of Terlingua, or 23 miles north of Lajitas, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2955 10357 2962 10371 3000 10357 2987 10327
TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 205DEG 22KT 2958 10364
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
95The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The West Texas Mesonet station 123 1NW Castolon, BBNP Big Bend NP/Brewster measured severe thunderstorm winds, including a gust to 66 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1320080.